Chapter 20: The Night Market Attack

The Record of Martial World Demons was a work by Hu Yu. He made a great deal of money writing rankings for others, but he was also a man of discernment—insisting that the top twenty in the martial world must be truly deserving of their places. Fang Dabai’s White Tassel Spear had once slaughtered three hundred disciples of the Crane Sect. Clad in white with the white tassel spear entering, and red-clad with the red tassel spear leaving, his imposing presence struck terror into every martial sect.

After a long period of dormancy, Fang Dabai’s White Tassel Spear now stood tall once more. Today, he intended to wreak havoc in the night market and restore the fearsome reputation of the Seven Deadly Spears.

Back at the entrance of the Pentagonal Tower, Fang Dabai was stopped again. Recognizing the lackeys who had just thrown something at him, he simply unleashed his spear. Though the many guards at the tower’s gate were skilled, they turned into soft tofu before his swift spear, each pierced through with chilling precision. Fang Dabai flung the wounded, spear-headed men aside. Those impaled fell heavily from above, grievously injured. Thus, he fought his way from outside into the main hall—anyone who stood in his path was riddled with holes.

Xiao Bugui, witnessing such bloodshed, felt a pang of sympathy and pleaded, “Senior, spare their lives!”

Fang Dabai paid no heed and ignored him.

Inside the hall, the buyers were all figures from the martial world. The treasures had yet to be displayed. Wen Xiaorou stood atop the treasure platform, exchanging flirtatious glances with several young noblemen below, charmingly enlivening the atmosphere. Yet the crowd’s real focus was not the young maiden, but the treasures of the evening. Among them, a handsome young lord said to Wen Xiaorou, “We didn’t come to see Miss Wen; hurry and show us the treasures.”

Wen Xiaorou teasingly replied, “I’m so beautiful—if you don’t want to look, then perhaps you’re a little girl in disguise.” Her words sparked loud laughter. Suddenly, a severely wounded man fell to the ground like a floundering fish, writhing his legs and shouting, “Someone has broken in!”

At that moment, a villain with a spear burst in, but the guests were not afraid; rather, their interest was piqued. They seemed to prefer the excitement. To ensure safety, their bodyguards formed a human shield, protecting their masters.

Fang Dabai rested the White Tassel Spear on his shoulder, with the spearhead still impaled through a burly man. The man hung his head in pain, clutching the spear shaft weakly, unable to pull the spear free. Through clenched teeth, he begged, “It hurts like hell, you damned man! Since you’ve got your glory, make it quick!”

Fang Dabai casually swung the spear, hanging the burly man from a beam. “You’re a real man; you’ll die with dignity up high.”

A certain young lord admired the display and praised, “What formidable spear skills! It’s an honor to witness them today; my eyes are truly opened.”

Wen Dayu, seeing this scene, immediately abandoned his youthful arrogance and gave a signal to his sister, Wen Xiaorou.

Wen Xiaorou, like a playful kitten, coquettishly approached Fang Dabai and loudly pleaded, “Hero, we know your prowess. Please show mercy and spare us. Quickly, have someone arrange a seat for the great hero.”

Unable to refuse a gentle and beautiful girl’s request, Wen Xiaorou’s words gave Fang Dabai face. He promptly stated his condition: “I want to see the head of the Wen family estate.”

Wen Xiaorou replied, “Very well, please follow me, great hero.”

Fang Dabai said, “I will wait here for Wen Jiuquan to come meet me.”

“Alright.” Wen Xiaorou arranged a seat for Fang Dabai and then politely left.

Behind a wall adjacent to the hall was a secret chamber where Wen Jiuquan sat drinking tea with a short, sturdy man. He was fully aware of the situation outside. Wen Xiaorou entered and reported, “Father, that damned man has returned again.”

“I heard everything; there’s no need for you to come in. He’s just a formidable villain. Our Wen estate has experts too.” After instructing his daughter, Wen Jiuquan said to his tea companion, “Brother Dana, lend me a hand.”

The man drinking tea was Wen Dana, the top expert of the Wen estate. Wen Jiuquan, wealthy and powerful, admired him, for he was no ordinary master.

Wen Dana held a copy of the Record of Martial World Demons, reading Fang Dabai’s ranking summary. “If I kill him, my name will rise into the top ten. I’m not helping for you—I do this for myself.”

“His spear is formidable, and you don’t have a signature weapon yet. Let me gift you one.” Wen Jiuquan carefully and timely presented a brocade box from under the tea table.

Wen Dana opened it to reveal a silver gauntlet. When worn on the left hand, it bore razor-sharp claw-like fingertips. He held a short knife in his right hand.

“The Secret Weapons Catalogue of Huang Xuanji records this weapon. There should be hidden weapons in this gauntlet.” Noticing a sharp little rotating wheel embedded in the gauntlet, Wen Dana activated the mechanism.

The small rotating wheel shot through the wall, pierced a man’s body, and headed straight toward Fang Dabai.

Fang Dabai struck the flying wheel with his spear tip, deflecting it. The wheel pierced two more people before returning to Wen Dana’s gauntlet.

Wen Dana then entered the hall, raising his arm to introduce himself: “I am Wen Dana, ready to test Senior Fang’s spear skills.”

Fang Dabai was terse; with a swift thrust and parry, he struck the gauntlet’s latch, disabling the hidden weapon, then swung his spear to knock away Wen Dana’s short knife.

Wen Dana’s father was Wen Dazhua, a rat demon; his mother, Diao Cuihua, was a weasel spirit. He had obsessed over martial arts for many years, turning a short knife into a versatile weapon—not only a throwing dart but capable of transforming tofu into silky bean curd. Judging by the present, all those years of bean curd-making had been in vain. Resigned, he turned around, puckered his buttocks, and let out a loud fart.

The weasel’s fart was foul and toxic, spreading like a gray mist. Everyone was shocked by Wen Dana’s act—whether pampered young lords or battle-hardened men, all felt nauseated.

Fang Dabai, caught in the noxious cloud, pinched his nose and shouted, “Wen Jiuquan, you old man, come out quickly! The Pandora’s Box was originally a treasure of my demon sect. Return it to its rightful owner at once!”

Hearing Fang Dabai’s shout from the secret chamber, Wen Jiuquan realized the misunderstanding—the box was not in his possession—and stepped out to clear things up.

Yet Wen Dana seized a knife and, under cover of the foul gas, stabbed Fang Dabai in the lower abdomen.

Wen Jiuquan shouted, “Dana, show mercy! Brother Fang is mistaken. The box is not here; it’s at the Qinglian Estate.”

Wen Dana, focused only on his ranking in the Record of Martial World Demons, ignored Wen Jiuquan and immediately punched Fang Dabai again.

Fang Dabai staggered back, blood gushing several feet from his abdomen. Just as he was about to fall, Xiao Bugui caught him. Gritting his teeth, Fang Dabai said, “Let’s get out of here quickly!”

Wen Jiuquan, sensing Fang Dabai’s grave injury, grabbed Wen Dana’s shoulder to restrain him from striking a fatal blow. He shouted, “The box is at Qinglian Estate. You have killed my family members and been grievously wounded yourself. Let today’s matter be considered settled.”